Feeding techniques

[wiz-fiz]

OK. I have tried to feed my snake the past to weeks without success, and this week the snake was striking at the prey and tried to wrap around once, and I ended up ripping the belly, this happened last week as well. I am using kitchen tongs and I'm wondering if the tongs are the problem?
I got it to feed 2 weeks ago, but that was with a smaller pinky rat. Would that be the problem? I can get some smaller pinky rats if I have to.


Will

 

[user 23122]

sometimes when your snake strikes onto your pinky you can wiggle the pinky abit while its in the snakes jaws this struggle can sometimes trigger a stronger response in the snake making it wrap around the prey

 

[Troyster]

It is also possible that you are over heating the mouse/rat while pre-warming causing it to split easier than normal.

 

[pythrulz]

defrost the food in warm water i fed my coastals with tonges tonight they striked and coiled started eating immediatly 2x rats each hungry little critters as soon as your pet strikes let go of the tongs happy feeding:

 

[wiz-fiz]

I think i'm over heating it because i put it straight into near boiling water when defrosting it, i'll try getting it out a little before then warming it in warm water.


Will

 

[Tristan]

just hot water out of the tap is more than enough to defrost it no need to be boiling or even close to boiling

 

[dangles]

as said i use hot water from the tap to defrost, you may have to replace the water a couple of times but better than being too hot

 

[daniel1234]

How true, especially if they are only lil things.Remember the idea of warming is to bring them back to body tempreture to simulate live food. I will often pop smaller feeds on top of an enclosure where the lamp is, or my hatchies I sit them over the heat cord for a bit until warm. Thats even if I need to do it at all. I get them out in the morning to feed at night. If the feed feels cold then I will warm it.

 

[wiz-fiz]

OK, so I think I have the heating thing properly, but I need tips on getting it into the snake... I've heard of braining it and rubbing it in tuna fish juices, but what are the less common ways of feeding, i'de like ways that people know will work on bredli pythons.

cheers,
Will

 

[SlytherinGirl]

I think i'm over heating it because i put it straight into near boiling water when defrosting it, i'll try getting it out a little before then warming it in warm water.
Will

Putting them straight into near-boiling water is definately a problem.

Like you mentioned, that would be the cause of the splitting. I put my frozen littlies in a plastic container and slowly trickle the hot water from the tap in. The hot water takes a moment to heat up, so the heating is very gradual. It may take five to ten minutes, but it's better slow and steady. You then feel the rat- if it's squishy everywhere except the head you're good to go.
Pythons aren't used to hot food- they just like to think it's alive (they want to think that they're a big, bad predator by having to kill it!).
Oh, and I don't think the kitchen tongs would be the problem- before I got my feeding tongs I used kitchen tongs and never had a problem.

You also mentioned that sometimes they go off their food for the winter months- I'd be worried if this were the case, because you should really be keeping the enclosure at a regular temperature- mid to high 20's.
It can get pretty chilly in Berridale, and I'd be watching the temp.

Anyway, good luck with it.

 

[Chris1]

i put the frozen solid rats in a sealed glad bag into hot hot tap water to start with, by the time theyre starting to thaw the water is a good temp for thawing, then just keep topping up with hot to maintain a good temp.

try hand feeding, u have alot more control over ur rat and can have a little tug o war with ur snake when he grabs it,..

havent heard of tuna juice, but have heard chicken stock is quite effective.

dont try live, its not only illegal, unneccessary and cruel, but if ur snake gets used to it it mightnt wanna go back to thawed,..
i drape mine over a chair to feed btw, they seem to have a hard time finding the head if its squished into the floor,...